Power Macintosh G4 Cube

CPU

CPU: PowerPC 7400

CPU Speed: 450/500 MHz

FPU: integrated

Bus Speed: 100 MHz

Data Path: 64 bit

ROM: 1 MB ROM + 3 MB toolbox ROM loaded into RAM

RAM Type: PC100

Minimum RAM Speed: 100 MHz

Onboard RAM: 0 MB

RAM slots: 3

Maximum RAM: 1.5 GB

Level 1 Cache: 32 kB data, 32 kB instruction

Level 2 Cache: 1 MB backside, 1:2

Expansion Slots: 2x AGP (filled)



Video

Video Card/Chipset: ATI RAGE 128 Pro

VRAM: 16 MB

Max Resolution: all resolutions supported

Video Out: VGA/DVI, ADC



Storage

Hard Drive: 20/30/60 GB

ATA Bus: ATA-66

Optical Drive: DVD-ROM or CD-RW



Input/Output

USB: 2

Firewire: 2

Audio Out: stereo 16 bit mini, via USB amplifier

Speaker: stereo, via USB amplifier



Networking

Modem: 56 kbps

Ethernet: 10/100Base-T

Airport: optional



Miscellaneous

Codename: Trinity

Gestalt ID: 406

Power: 200 Watts

Dimensions: 10" H x 8" W x 8" D

Weight: 28.7 lbs.

Maximum OS: 10.4.11

Minimum OS: 9.0.4

Introduced: August 2000

Terminated: July 2001

Announced in July 2000, the PowerMac G4 Cube introduced a dramatic new case design. Housed in an 8x8x8 cube, the G4 Cube combined the elegance of the iMac with the power of the PowerMac G4. The G4 Cube was a foray into the business market, as well as an answer to those who wanted an iMac-like machine, with more choice in monitors.

The Cube traded expandability for its diminutive size: There were no PCI slots, and while the Graphics was fit into an 2x AGP slot, there wasn't room for full-length AGP cards. With the exception of PCI expansion, the Cube was as versatile as it's larger G4 cousin: Three RAM slots, an AirPort slot, and two USB and FireWire ports.

One gripe many people had with the Cube was its lack of conventional Audio input and output. Instead, it came with an external USB amplifier and a set of Harman Kardon speakers. The amplifier had a standard mini-plug headphone output, but there was no mic included, and having USB as the only sound-input option was considered limiting by many.

Shortcomings aside, the Cube was a remarkable feat of engineering, crammed inside an elegant case. The Cube shipped to retail markets with a 450 MHz G4 processor, a 20 GB hard drive, a 56 kbps modem, 64 MB of RAM, and Apple s Pro Mouse, for $1799. Another configuration was available through the Apple Store, with a 500 MHz G4, a 30 GB hard drive and 128 MB of RAM, for $2299. Gigabit Ethernet was available as a BTO option.

The Cube was not nearly the success that Apple had hoped it would be. The consensus was that Apple had misjudged the market, making the Cube an expensive "luxury" computer instead of a cheaper monitor-less iMac. In december the low-end configuration received a price cut to $1499. In February 2001, The cube received a feature and price change. The low-end configuration was repriced at $1299. A "better" configuration was made available, with a CD-RW drive and 128 MB of RAM, for $1599. Finally, the high-end version got a 60 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM, a CD-RW drive and an 32 MB NVIDIA GeForce2 MX video card, and sold for $2199.

The PowerMac G4 Cube was never officially discontinued, but in July 2001 Apple suspended production of the Cube indefinitely. While leaving the door open for a possible reintroduction of the enclosure, Apple quickly and quietly let the world forget the disappointing failure of the G4 Cube.

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From Apple website 19/07/2000

Apple Introduces Revolutionary G4 Cube
Power Mac G4 Cube Delivers G4 Performance in an Eight Inch Cube

MACWORLD EXPO, NEW YORK—July 19, 2000—Apple® today introduced the Power Mac™ G4 Cube, an entirely new class of computer that delivers the performance of a Power Mac G4 in an eight inch cube suspended in a stunning crystal-clear enclosure. The G4 Cube is less than one fourth the size of most PCs, yet houses a 450 MHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine™ that reaches supercomputer speeds of over three billion calculations per second (Gigaflops).

“The G4 Cube is simply the coolest computer ever,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “An entirely new class of computer, it marries the Pentium-crushing performance of the Power Mac G4 with the miniaturization, silent operation and elegant desktop design of the iMac. It is an amazing engineering and design feat, and we’re thrilled to finally unveil it to our customers.”

The Power Mac G4 Cube uses a revolutionary cooling design that does not require a fan, so it runs in virtual silence. Cooling is provided by the air flowing through the Cube’s center vertical cooling channel. In addition, the Cube’s entire electronics assembly can be easily lifted out of its enclosure within seconds, providing access to every major component and allowing the easy addition of memory or an AirPort™ card.

The G4 Cube includes a 450 MHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine (configurable to 500 MHz through the Apple Store); 64MB of memory expandable to 1.5GB; 20GB of storage (configurable up to 40GB through the Apple Store); a slot-loading DVD drive on the top of the G4 Cube for easy access; two FireWire® and two USB ports; 10/100BASE-T Ethernet and a 56K V.90 modem.

The Power Mac G4 Cube comes complete with Apple’s new optical mouse and pro keyboard, as well as a pair of Apple designed Harman Kardon speakers. The Apple Pro Mouse provides precise positioning without a mouse pad on almost any surface, an ergonomic full surface button and a comfortable elliptical shape. Apple is the first company to provide an optical mouse standard with all of its desktop systems. The sleek new Apple Pro Keyboard offers full-size function, navigation, volume control and disc eject keys, as well as two USB ports.

The G4 Cube also comes preinstalled with Apple’s iMovie™ 2, the next version of the world’s most popular, easy-to-use consumer digital video editing software. iMovie 2 features a refined user interface that’s even easier to use, dramatically improved audio editing capabilities, enhanced controls for titles and transitions, and new effects such as speeding up or slowing down video clips, adding sepia tone and creating soft focus.
Apple today also unveiled a completely new family of displays that are the perfect complement to the new G4 Cube. The new displays include: the 17 inch (16 inch viewable) Apple Studio Display CRT; the 15 inch Apple Studio Display flat panel and the 22 inch Apple Cinema Display™, the largest all-digital flat panel ever brought to market. Each display incorporates three advances to clean up the desktop cable mess:

Each display is powered from the computer, eliminating a separate power cord;
Each has a two port powered USB hub for convenient connection to desktop USB devices, such as keyboards, USB speakers and digital cameras; and
Each utilizes the Apple Display Connector, an innovative new cable and connector which carries analog and digital video signals, USB data and display power over a single cable and connector.

Pricing and Availability
The 450 MHz Power Mac G4 Cube will be available in early August through the Apple Store (www.apple.com) and Apple Authorized Resellers for $1,799 (US). A 500 MHz Power Mac G4 Cube will be available through the Apple Store for $2,299 (US).

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.